Brush having a disposable part



Feb. 6, 1968 D, B, MENKlN ET AL 3,366,988

BRUSH HAVING A DISPOSABLE PART Filed April 19, 1966 Waal/ys United States Patent 3,366,938 BRUSH HAVING A DISPOSABLE PART David B. Menkin, 727 S. 9th Ave., City of Industry, Calif. 91744, and .lames C. Ginter, 1134 Linda Vista Ave., Pasadena, Calif. 91103 Filed' Apr. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 543,673 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-244) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is a paint brush with a disposable paint applying part. The paint applying part is formed of soft spongy material. The material is attached to, that is, around, an internal flexible support member which includes a part that is detachably securable to the handle. The hand-1e includes an end part formed as a socket to receive the disposable part of the brush. The socket comprises an extending skirt. The end part of the member to which the spongy7 material is attached is configurated to be received in the socket and skirt and removably held therein. The spongy material is secured to the internal resilient member adjacent the part of it that is received in the socket so that the point of attachment of the spongy material to the resilient member is within the skirt when the parts are assembled.

This invention relates generally to brushes for applying paint or comparable materials and, more particularly, to a brush of this type having a disposable part. The disposable part is the paint-applying part of the brush corresponding to the bristles of known types of brushes.

The problem of cleaning and keeping paint brushes clean is one that is well known in the art. Brushes must be cleaned before being stored even overnight in order that the bristles will remain soft and pliable rather than becoming rigid with hardened paint or other material. If the brush becomes clogged with hardened paint, it is, of course, not capable of being used as a paint brush. Cleaning brushes is a distasteful and tedious job. This is particularly true when the brush must be cleaned quite often. The primary object of this invention is to overcome this problem in brushes in a very simple economical, but highly effective, way. In the preferred form of the invention, the paint-applying part of the brush is constructed as a disposable or throw-away element which is removable from the handle for disposal. Preferably, the paint-applying portion of the brush does not comprise bristles but rather a soft spongy material which may be one of various different plastic materials, including non-rigid foam made from a synthetic resin or plastic, such as polyester or polyurethane resins. The detachability of the paint-applying part of the brush is accomplished by providing a socket and fitting relationship between the disposable part and the handle. In this Way the parts are securely held together while in use, but can be readily separated for disposing of the paint-applying portion or disposable part. Preferably, the socket is formed in the brush handle to detachably receive a fitting on the disposable part of the brush. The disposable part of the brush preferably comprises a flexible plastic internal rib or spine member to which the sponge material may be applied merely by stapling thereto. On the other hand, the internal rib may have extending pins or pro- 3,366,988 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 jections which extend int-o the spongy material to hold it in place. The result is a very effective but easily used, economical, and readily disposable construction.

A further object of the invention is to achieve this result providing for detachability of the disposable member in an effective way and providing for a simplified but very economical construction.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the brush;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the disposable part of the brush showing the soft spongy paint-applying material separated from the internal web and fitting member which is received in the socket; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE l of the drawings, the invention comprises two main parts which are the handle designated at 10 and the paint-applying portion as designated at 12, The handle `has a part 11 to he grasped by the hand and an enlarged lower part designated at 14. This part is elongated transversely of the handle and has rounded end parts as designated at 16. Part 14 forms a socket to receive the disposable part of the brush, as wil-1 be described. The cross-sectional shape of the socket 14 is shown in FIGURE 2.

The disposable part of the brush as designated at 12 comprises a fitting adapted to be removably received in the socket 14 and this construction is shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

The handle and socket may be made from various materials including plastic materials which are inert with respect to solvents used with paints and varnishes and may be manufactured by molding process or otherwise from synthetic resin or plastic such as nylon or polyethylene resins. In the preferred form of the invention shown, the grip part of the brush 11 is hollow.

Referring again to the disposable part of the brush, it comprises the support member designated generally at 18. This member has a fitting at the upper end thereof and designated at 20, having a particular construction so as to be frictionally but removably received within the socket 14 of the handle. This fitting comprises two transverse plate members designated at 22 and 24, being of a size and shape to fit snugly within the socket 14. Midway between these plate members and in a position normal to them is a strengthening and stiffening rib 26 as may be seen in FIGURE 3. A plurality of transverse stiffening ribs, designated at 28 and 30, extend outwardly from the vertical rib 26 to the edges of the plates 22 and 24. At the ends of the plates 22 and 24 are arcuate spacing members 32 and 34 having central ribs designated at 36. At these points of fitting 2f) t-here are downwardly extending fingers similarly arcuate in cross-section as designated at 40 and 42. The configuration of the fitting as described is such as to enable it to be frictionally received and held within the skirt formed by the socket 14 on the handle 10, as shown in FIGURE 3. The ribs as shown at 36 and the extending fingers 40 and 42 fit snugly Within the socket 14 so that the fitting 20 is firmly held therein but yet can be readily removed simply by pulling the fitting 20 out of the socket. The ribs or webs 26, 28 and 30 give the fitting sufiicient strength and rigidity that it can be held in the socket frictionally in such a way, that the brush can be used as such but yet thetting is readily removable from the socket.

The part 18 has an extension or web part 46 extending downwardly from the lower plate or member 24. `This part is integral with the fitting 20. The unit 18 may preferably be made of any various materials suitable to this purpose. It may be preferably manufactured by a molding process from suitable synthetic resin or plastic, such as nylon and polyethylene resins. The web or extension 46 is thinner at the lower end and tapers towards the lower end as shown. It has a plurality of transverse ribs such as shown at 48 which contribute a slight amount of stifiening to the extension. The extension also preferably has slots 50 as shown at its lower end extending upwardly from the lower edge. The construction is such as to provide flexibility in the extension member comparable to that in an ordinary bristle brush.

The paint-applying part of the brush itself comprises the envelope 52 made of a soft spongy material which will absorb and hold paint and for applying the paint to a surface. The extension 46 contributes sufficient stiffness to the envelope 52 to make it suitable for paint-applying purposes. A suitable material for this element is a nonrigid foam made from a synthetic resin or plastic, such as polyester or polyurethane resins. Other materials may be used, however. The material 52 is formed with an internal slot, as designated at 54, shaped to fit over `the extension 46 on the fitting 20. The slot 54 may extend between circular bores 56 and 58 at its ends. The end part of the element 52 is preferably tapered as shown at 62. The envelope 52 slips over the extension 46 on fitting 2t) and, in a preferred form of the invention, it is secured to the upper part of the extension 46 by staples as shown at 64 and 66, which pass through the spongy material 52 and through the extension 46 as shown in FIGURE 2. The material 52 is soft enough that the staples 64 and 66 draw it into contact or engagement with the extension 46 as shown. As may be observed, the unit 18 may be formed as a single element and the method of attachment of the envelope 52 is extremely simple and economical but yet very effective for its purpose.

FIGURE shows a modified form of theinvention wherein similar parts are similarly numbered. In this form of the invention, the envelope is not attached to member 46 by stapling. Instead member 46 has sharp extending pins or projections extending outwardly as shown at 60 and 61. Member 46 may have three, four, or tive of the pins 6() and 61 on each side, for example. To install the spongy material 52, it is slipped over member 46; it is then stretched laterally at the top of slot 54 over pins 60 and 61 and then squeezed inwardly so that the pins pierce the spongy material and securely hold it in place. In this way, the envelope is held in place, without stapling or any separate securing means. The support member 18 is then inserted in socket 14. The pins 6i) and 61 are positioned to be within socket 14.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that the invention as described herein realizes and achieves all of the objects and advantages as set forth in the foregoing, as well as having many additional advantages which are apparent from the detailed description. The brush can be very economically made and the disposable part of the brush can be thrown away after limited usage without affecting the economy because of the cheapness with which this part of the brush may be made. T-he construction is such as to make possible simplified and inexpensive fabricating processes. The brush has additional advantages since the spongy material 52 tends to hold the paint or other material like a sponge so that it does not run or drip ofi the brush even when painting a ceiling. Y

The foregoing describes and illustrates preferred forms of the invention. The disclosure is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting upon the invention which is to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto. Various equivalent departures may be made from the details of construction and assembly as described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A brush for the application of paint and the like, comprising in combination, means forming a handle providing a grip for holding the brush, and extension projecting longitudinally from the handle, said projection being relatively thin and laterally flexible, a longitudinally extending envelope of soft spongy, resilient, and paint absorbent material surrounding and covering the extension, said envelope having an interior cavity therein adapted to receive the extension on the handle, the improvements comprising a socket formed on the end of said handle, said socket including an extending skirt part having a continuous uninterrupted lower edge, the said extension coinprising an integral tting at one end having a shape conr'igurated to be frictionally received in said socket for removal therefrom and disposal, and means securing said paint absorbent material to said extension, said means being positioned adjacent to said fitting, the said fitting when assembled with the handle being in a position wherein said means securing the paint absorbent material to the extension is within the said skirt.

2. A brush as in claim 1 wherein the paint absorbent material is attached to said extension by being stapled thereto.

3. A brush for the application of paint and the like, comprising in combination, means forming a handle providing a grip for holding the brush, an extension projecting longitudinally from the handle, said projection being relatively thin and laterally flexible, a longitudinally extending envelope of soft, spongy, resilient, and paint absorbent material surrounding and covering the extension, said envelope having an interior cavity therein adapted tO receive the extension on the handle, the improvements comprising a socket formed on the end of said handle, said socket including an extending skirt, the said extension comprising a fitting at one end having a shape to be frictionally received in said socket, and means securing said paint absorbent material to said extension, said fitting including an intermediate stiffening rib extending lengthwise thereof and transverse ribs extending from the intermediate rib transversely to the sides of the said fitting.

4. A brush for the application of paint and the like, comprising in combination, means forming a handle providing a grip for holding the brush, an extension projecting longitudinally from the handle, said projection being relatively thin and laterally fiexible, a longitudinally extending envelope of soft, spongy, resilient, and paint absorbent material surrounding and covering the extension, said envelope having an interior cavity therein adapted to receive the extension on the handle, the improvements comprising a socket formed on the end of said handle, said socket including an extending skirt, the said extension comprising a fitting at one end having a shape to be frictionally received in said socket, means securing said paint absorbent material to said extension, said fitting comprising upper and lower members positioned normally to said projection; and an intermediate rib member between said upper and lower members and parallel to said projection.

5. A brush as in claim 4, including extending fingers at the ends of said upper and lower members adapted to frictionally engage interior surfaces of said socket.

6. A brush as in claim 1 wherein said' extension has laterally extending pins adjacent said fitting positioned to pierce said paint absorbent material for holding it in place.

7. A brush as in claim 5 wherein the paint absorbent 5 material is attached to said extension by being stapled thereto.

8. A brush as in claim 5 wherein said extension has laterally extending pins adjacent said fitting positioned to pierce said paint absorbent material for holding it in place.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,481 6/1926 Erickson et al 15-248 2,147,310 2/1939 Morrison 15-194 2,687,602 8/1954 Churchill 15-230.14

Hall 15-244 Heroy et al 15-244 Wright 15-244 Vosbikian et al 15-244 Vosbikian et al 15-230.11 Dalton 15-244 Linenfelser 15-244 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

